The alternatively spliced Kunitz protease inhibitor domain alters amyloid beta protein precursor processing and amyloid beta protein production in cultured cells.
Abstract
The insoluble amyloid deposited extracellularly in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) is composed of amyloid beta protein, a approximately 4-kDa secreted protein that is derived from a set of large proteins collectively referred to as the amyloid beta protein precursor (betaAPP). During normal processing the betaAPP is cleaved by beta secretase, producing a large NH2-terminal secreted derivative (sAPPbeta) and a COOH-terminal fragment beginning at Abeta1, which is subsequently cleaved by gamma secretase releasing secreted Abeta. Most secreted Abeta is Abeta1-40, but approximately 10% of secreted Abeta is Abeta1-42. Alternative betaAPP cleavage by alpha secretase produces a slightly longer NH2-terminal secreted derivative (sAPPalpha) and a COOH-terminal fragment beginning at Abeta17, which is subsequently cleaved by gamma secretase releasing a approximately 3-kDa secreted form of Abeta (P3). Several of the betaAPP isoforms that are produced by alternative splicing contain a 56-amino acid Kunitz protease inhibitor (KPI) domain known to inhibit proteases such as trypsin and chymotrypsin. To determine whether the KPI domain influences the proteolytic cleavages that generate Abeta, we compared Abeta production in t...Continue Reading
References
Alzheimer-type neuropathology in transgenic mice overexpressing V717F beta-amyloid precursor protein
Citations
Regulation of APP synthesis and secretion by neuroimmunophilin ligands and cyclooxygenase inhibitors
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